Partner Spotlight: Velodyne LiDAR and the Future of Automated Cars

At Velodyne LiDAR, we imagine this: A future of pristine roadways and safely driven cars, in which no lives are ever lost or families shattered, due to the threat posed by human error, especially that of drunk driving.

Today, Velodyne LiDAR and MADD have taken the critical step of partnering together to fight the threat that drunk driving poses to our lives and those of our loved ones. Together, we dream of a future where no lives are lost on America’s roadways due to drunk driving. At Velodyne LiDAR, we speak with the voice of hope, of making this future a reality sooner than we ever dreamed possible.

By joining forces with MADD, Velodyne LiDAR is re-envisioning the concept of the Designated Driver, to fulfill our shared goal and purpose, of eliminating drunk driving through the use of Autonomous Vehicle technology.

A Dynamic Partnership

In 2005, visionary innovator David Hall, CEO of Velodyne LiDAR, conceptualized and brought to fruition the vision-based technology foundational to the autonomous driving industry. With this technology, a horizon of hope opened up across the world; it brings the possibility – or, more accurately, the probability – of eliminating deaths from drunk driving, which also became that much closer to becoming a reality.

One year after David’s visionary invention, Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD) launched their Campaign to Eliminate Drunk Driving. Their tireless efforts have produced staggering results: since the inauguration of this campaign, drunk driving deaths have dropped by 23.5 percent. Further, 30 states and Washington D. C. have passed laws requiring ignition interlocks for all drunk drivers.

Through this partnership, we find ourselves at the intersection of Velodyne LiDAR’s technology and MADD’s indomitable endeavors. At this crossroads, we find the combination of MADD’s dedication to public awareness and usage of Designated Drivers, and David Hall’s invention of LiDAR technology to establish and secure the frontier of autonomous vehicles. This collaboration offers the spark of hope, and fuels the potential to eliminate all roadway collisions caused by human error and negligence. Together, Velodyne and MADD will share their collaborative power to bring about the end of drunk driving deaths.

To fulfill this vison, Velodyne and MADD have adopted the shared mission of promoting and advancing Autonomous Vehicle technology with the singular goal of getting you and your loved ones home – safely. The Designated Driver of the future is Velodyne LiDAR. Velodyne LiDAR will never be drunk, drugged, distracted, or even drowsy.

A Future of Hope

We take our shared mission extremely seriously. After all, a staggering 94% of crashes are attributed to human behavior. Over 1.3 million people die each year — worldwide — as a result of vehicular crashes. That’s an average of 3,561 fatalities each day and 148 every hour. With this collaboration between MADD and Velodyne, we can reduce and ultimately eliminate the single most influential factor in roadway crashes and fatalities: human error.

For over a decade, Velodyne LiDAR has been at the forefront of the vision-based technology that makes autonomous driving possible. Velodyne’s patented LiDAR consists of a spinning array of lasers that create a high-resolution, 3D map of the surrounding world: quite literally, our LiDAR technology “sees” beyond the scope of the human eye – in rain, snow, fog, and even high-glare situations. In real-time and at the high speeds of highway driving, the Velodyne LiDAR is the 3D vision system that enables the safety and security of the future of autonomous driving.

At the core of our culture, we strive to serve humanity, and overall, make the world a better place. Our products represent the tools that we need in order to make this vision a reality. To do so, Velodyne LiDAR and MADD are working together to enhance awareness of autonomous technology for advanced safety on the roadways. Our shared mission is to advocate for the adoption of autonomous vehicle technology, and educate the public about the freedom and the safety inherent in this vision of the future.

Educating the Public

As we provide greater and clearer information about autonomous cars, including the technology used to operate them, the public will become more comfortable and familiar with the advantages of this mode of transportation, as well as advanced safety in cars that are not fully autonomous.

We are all safer on the roads with vehicles equipped with Velodyne’s vision-based technology. To advance our commitment to education, we are committed to creating various channels through which people can learn about this innovative technology. Our overall goal is to make this information as fact-based as possible, and absolutely accessible to the average individual.